Home / NYC Tennis Guide / Walk-up rules
WALK-UP GUIDE
Walk up knowing what to do.
Find the right queue, bring what you need, and follow the local rotation.
Three walk-up patterns
Physical queue
Join a marked line (e.g. Hudson River Park benches). Stay present to keep your place.
Attendant-managed times
An attendant assigns or confirms a time. Bring partner and permit if required.
Posted sign-up sheet
Write every player on the sheet. Partner often required before selecting a session.
Putting a racket down to hold a court is only a rule where that park has published it. It is not a citywide rule. You cannot join a line online or check a wait time from home.
How these courts work
Hudson River Park
Bench queue; remain nearby; 1-hour limit when others wait; school permits may take priority weekdays 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Published by Hudson River Park. Read this court's how-to-play page before you go.
Riverside Park / 96th
Daily in-person sign-up; selected advance reservations on some courts. Distinct from 119th.
Published by Riverside. 96th Street is not the same as 119th. Read this court's how-to-play page before you go.
Fort Greene Park
Same-day sign-up sheet; list every player; arrange partner before choosing session.
Published by the Fort Greene Tennis Association. Read this court's how-to-play page before you go.
Riverside Park / 119th
Next-hour in-person sign-ups; no online status check for conditions (per Riverside).
Published by Riverside. Read this court's how-to-play page before you go.
Before you walk up
- ☐ Confirm the location’s pattern (queue / attendant / sheet)
- ☐ Bring partner if required at sign-up
- ☐ Have permit ready where required
- ☐ Know session limits and presence rules
- ☐ Check weather — forecast ≠ dry court